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CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Lana set the phone back in the cradle and tried not to cry out of sheer frustration Onepile Maybe she earing son That would explain a lot

"What?" asked Caleb, crossing the office toward her Concern narrowed his black eyes andShe did neither, just sat there, trying to stay composed

"The hotel canceled"

"We don’t have reservations for tonight I didn’t want to sleep in the same place twice," he told her in a near whisper

The bugs In the flurry of activity, she’d alotten about thereed to host the art auction for free They canceled"

"Why?"

Lana didn’t want to tel hiht in her cheeks, she knew, but she didn’t want to say it Knowing she was es

Caleb took hold of her hand, his calused fingers gentle He just held her hand, waiting for her to speak She hated that about hiuts better than deht him She had to pick and choose her battles carefuly, because there just wasn’t enough energy left in her to fight them al, or to keep up with al of the lies each battle created

"I have a friend who runs the place, which is why I ed to convince the hotel to let us use the space in exchange for free advertising The only catch was that if anyone else wanted to book at least half the rooms in the hotel, I’d have to reschedule my event Tomorroas the last day before they couldn’t bump me anymore"

"But someone reserved the rooms?"

"Not just someone Oran"

"Oran? Why?"

"He’s throwing his engageured that Brittney was a good candidate for a wife, after al There isn’t roo bucks"

"Are you teling ement party to interfere with your auction? On purpose?"

Lana nodded, hu her cheeks "Probably I didn’t fal al overhis advances the other day This is obviously his way of punishing me"

"Give me his address and I’l have a talk with hi theether

"No Don’t you dare interfere I’ve made my peace about hiinary battle I don’t care any out"

"Maybe you should postpone the auction There’s a lot happening right now, and a big public event "

Lana felt panic wel up froave up on the auction, she’d have nothing left to work for The foundation would cruet out of bed in the ht not be able to find that reason was more than just scary, it terrified her

"No I need to do this" She heard the desperation in her voice and wished she could hide her feelings better

Caleb gave her a slow nod, and she could tel by the carefuly neutral expression on his face that he’d seen her panic "Okay, so we do this Together"

No, no, no Not that sweet voice of teain She could not lean on him He’d leave soon, and then ould she do? Hoould she get along on her own? It was best if she didn’t relax at al She had so little control in her life that if she let go even a little, she’d never recover

"Thanks, but I’ve got it under control"

Caleb knelt down in front of her and reached out His big hands sed hers, the tanned skin of his fingers dark against the paler skin of her wrists His touch ar

Daive in to that lure of co his head so he could look into her eyes "You have al kinds of volunteers at the youth center I’l just be one more What’s the harm in that?"

He had no idea the temptation he was, so steady and confident in the rab a hold and let his strength add to the last dwindling reserves of her own He was such a dangerous seduction, puling at her senses as if he’d beenabout him appealed to her

--those sinfuly dark eyes, the way he used his size to shield rather than intimidate her, his quiet patience The devil hi teet in your way," he said She felt the calused pad of his thumb rasp over the back of her hand, and it sent little jolts of sensation streaking up her arht to her heart Just like the rest of him

Lana closed her eyes in defeat What use was it to fight hi She was just plain tired in general At least if Caleb helped her through the auction, the kids would have the funding they needed If she had to figure out a way to live without his help when he left, then she’d do it for the kids When he left, they’d stil need her, and she’d stil be here to help them One way or another She wasn’t sure what that ould be, but she’d figure it out later